I'm back, BABY!! {updated below}

OK, I have no idea why this is, but since we heard our wonderful news of Husband being exempt from his military deployment, there has been 1400 lbs. of stress lifted off of my shoulders and I feel the need to blog. Ya know, about the stupid-everyday-kinda-blogging that I used to do....boy have I missed that! But for the past two months, my mind has been too consumed with other priorities to even think about blogging!

We couldn't wait to tell the kids. You may remember how hard Kole took the deployment talk. He was really struggling and I was just praying that somehow I would be able to take care of this little boy for the year that his dad would be gone. So when we picked them up, Robbie told them and the look on Kole's face was priceless. I can't believe it - me, of all people!! didn't have my camera to document their reaction. No toy, video game, slumber party - NOTHING - could have gotten the same reaction out of Kole as telling him his daddy was staying here. I kept turning around and he had the biggest ear-to-ear grin on his face. Robbie later told me that he looked in the rear view mirror and Kole was wiping tears from his eyes...still with that cheesy grin on his face....absolutely P*R*E*C*I*O*U*S. That boy adores his father. So much so, that I was really concerned what a year would do to him with his father gone....but THANK YOU JESUS that we don't have to find out! I have (and will continue to) spend many-a-hours on my knees thanking HIM for this wonderful gift.

On another note, there is SO much {other} stuff going on in our lives. Our schedules are completely booked for I'm not sure how long. My dear, precious friend Camily is taking our family pictures this weekend. We originally planned this to get some good shots of everyone so we would have LOTS of pictures of daddy while he was gone. I was going to get shots of each kid individually with Robbie and have them framed for their nightstand and other places throughout the house. But the plan is still on even though he isn't leaving...it's about time for some new photos anyway! So you will have to keep an eye out for those!

After pictures we are heading over to Kyle & Lindsey's to celebrate Bryce's 3rd birthday. Really?....3?....I can't believe it!! And then of course there is the whole Fall Festival at our church that we attend every year and it is da bomb! I mean, so much fun....love it (see pix from 2007 & 2008).

Then on Sunday, Camily so graciously agreed to come back out to take pictures again of my entire family (like we did last year). I can't wait to see them with our new additions, Jackson & Will, this year...those precious babies are just gonna make some beautiful family pictures!



November 4th is my Gran's 90th birthday!!! She is such a strong Christian woman and I thank God that she has lived such a full life - 90 years - WOW! And here she is just a few years ago! ;) Stunning....



I am having some major baby withdraws!! It has been almost two weeks since I have seen Will or Jackson, so I am terribly excited that tomorrow I will get the chance to get my hands on this little fella....



And then I will get to see both of them together this weekend...WOO HOO!! My life really is returning to normal....I LOVE IT! Will someone pinch me or something? I must be dreaming!

I know this post is all over the place (and it is after 1 AM), but who cares!!! My husband is not going anywhere, my emotions are all over the place at this point, and well....who cares - WOO HOO!!

So I made another one of these....



It's a surprise for someone very special....can't wait to deliver it!



OK, I will end with two things. First being a conversation I had with Alexie while getting ready for school.

Alexie: 'Mom, will you do my hair like this everyday because it makes me look cuter?'

Me: 'Alexie, there isn't a hairstyle out there that can make you any cuter! You are so beautiful it doesn't even matter how you wear your hair!' {I am going on and on when she cuts me off}....

Alexie: {motioning towards herself} 'KEEP GOING'....

Seriously? Were does she get this stuff?

And lastly, I thought we would celebrate Husband's NONdeployment by giving away another blog makeover! Anyone interested? All you have to do is leave a comment and let me know that you're interested and I will use random.org to pick a winner!

WOO HOO!!!! Man, it's a great day night!

__________________________________________________

{UPDATE ON THE BLOG MAKEOVER GIVEAWAY} - If you are interested in the giveaway, PLEASE say so in your comment! Only those who said they were interested will be entered. So, if you already left a comment and forgot to mention wanting to be a part of the contest, please leave another comment. I don't want to put someone in the drawing who isn't even interested in the giveaway. Thanks, peeps!